The overall objective of the programme is to promote inclusive and sustainable development through international trade. It offers analysis and advice and seeks to build consensus, strengthen capacity and promote partnerships for trade policy, trade negotiations, trade in goods and services, competition law and consumer protection, and managing issues arising at the intersection of trade, the environment and climate change.

News

Competition agencies across the globe have joined together to celebrate World Competition Day, which marks the thirty-second anniversary of the adoption by the General Assembly, on 5 December 1980, of the United Nations Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices (UN Set). ​

Experts from the United Nations regional economic commissions told the Trade and Development Board (TDB) yesterday of issues affecting trade performance in their respective regions, a sector that is growing in importance but faces myriad challenges including those arising from expanding intra-regional trade.

Finished goods are now produced in part in so many different countries that the traditional concepts of ‘imports’ and ‘exports’ are no longer accurate, with major implications for traditional national and regional 'trade policies', the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board was told today.

On the second and final day, yesterday, of the conference on "Global Value Chains in the 21st Century: Policy Implications on Trade, Investment, Statistics and Developing Countries" co-organised by China's Ministry of Commerce, UNCTAD, WTO and OECD in Bejing, a panel discussion was held on "Global value chains (GVCs) and international investment."